Bleached Coffee & Crystal Cylinder - August Sustainable Business Champion
Our aim is not to promote our business’s sustainability success in a greenwashing marketing sense. Rather it is to ensure the planet and sustainability are at the core of our actions, decisions, and future planning within our business. - Benny
Crystal Cylinder is the retail store attached to Bleached Coffee and both are working together to bring the ultimate cafe experience and introduce ethical products to our community. Bleached is an inclusive space where all are welcome, no matter the sustainability journey they're on!
Read on to find out why we are giving Bleached Coffee and Crystal Cylinder a big pat on the back.
Crystal Cylinder
Crystal Cylinder represents a painstakingly curated mix of brands, products and content fused together in the name of modern coastal culture.
The aim is to stock all brands that make apparel and products with sustainability and the planet in mind - examples of these brands include:
Patagonia - Who aim to use their resources, voice, business, and community to do something about the climate crisis. Their actions worldwide always have the planet in mind. Environmental activism is a fundamental base of their business.
Thrills - using sustainable fibres, mostly natural and organic. Creating timeless quality garments, made ethically with the planet in mind.
As well as stocking New Zealand and Taranaki-made brands and products such as August Jane, Monday Journal, Mars jewellery, Sans Ceuticals and many more.
Surfboards:
Surfboards are sourced from brands that are manufacturing boards using high-quality construction methods and durable materials. The boards are made to last the distance. Many of the boards that Crystal Cylinder is stocking are far more "fun" and versatile than current-day high-performance surfboards, which are designed for high-impact surfing and rapid disposability.
Because of the versatility these boards offer, the surfer will be satisfied with fewer boards in his or her quiver. Some surfboards stocked are also made in New Zealand.
Wetsuits
Stocks Billabong and Patagonia - two brands leading the way when it comes to sustainable wetsuit fabrics and construction of suits and surfwear.
Bleached Coffee & Company
Allpress organic coffee beans are used in-store, along with local Tauranga supplier Webster’s Tea range.
Bleached is a part of the Again Again cup leading system and local Bring It reusable cup campaign, offering a discount to customers who bring reusable cups. Once the BYO Container Campaign launches, they will be one of the first-movers to take part in this initiative too. They encourage customers to bring their own food containers and offer a discount on any takeaway orders if you BYO container.
Not to mention, they locally source the food sold in the cabinet, and they have recently started disposing of coffee grinds and compostable containers at the local Marfell Community Garden compost.
They also are prominent advocates for employees working in hospitality, being paid as skilled workers receiving at least the living wage.
We are nowhere near perfect; sustainability is a constant journey. We're always open to experimenting with new ideas and changing how we do things. [];’
Sustainable Taranaki is working with NPDC on a BYO Container Campaign, as a follow-on from the "Bring it" Coffee Cup Campaign. We are working with businesses to explore messaging around reusables throughout the campaign and creating a public directory listing the businesses who accept reusable containers and/or provide incentives if customers choose to do so.
The public campaign also involves New Plymouth residents. We are encouraging residents to get into the habit of bringing their own clean containers for shopping and meals out. Promotion of the campaign will be seen via the Sustainable Taranaki and NPDC websites, videos, social and print media, and public events.
Owners, Benny Connolly and Lucy Houghton
We live in an increasingly throw-away society. Through buying quality products and caring for them through a long life, buying second-hand to give something another life, or upcycling what you have into another use, you’re able to reuse valuable products.
Invest in reusable products
Buy quality reusable products. Make an investment and it will last you much much longer, saving you money over the lifetime of the item. Goods you can purchase as alternatives to single-use items include durable stainless steel pegs, lunch boxes, water bottles, and straws, and coffee mugs, beeswax wraps, silicone container covers, and baking sheets, and many more.
